looking for a good light machete for week long tracking, hunting, camping

T

Tamer

Joined
Feb 27, 2010
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I know Fiddlebacks are amazing but they seem hard to find, expensive, and I dont want to go through the trouble of getting a sheath separately made. Not to mention I dont even know where to buy the machetes. The website doesnt sell them individually nor do any of the recommended sites carry the machetes atm. Also the site says they only make th 12 and 14 inchers however from what Ive read the 16 incher is the best model. I am definitely down to buy a 16 inch fiddleback if anyone has one for sale.

Im looking at the Condor Speed Machete however its 2.5 mm thick and ive read that its really top heavy. Fiddlebacks are only 2.2 mm thick (the 16 incher) so they arent as tiring to wield So Im worried Ill get my arm tired with heavy use with this speed machete. I want a thin quick light one that can generate a lot of tip speed.

I use a tomahawk for heavier chopping so I want something fast and light for bush and thorns and path clearing. Im not going to chop down trees with my machete.

I am open to other recommendations. In the past Ive always used cheap machetes from local hardware stores and it finally dawned on me that I should probably get something a bit higher end with better engineering.

Please help me with my choice.
 
Oh, and waaay way less expensive than either of the ones you discussed. Be sure to get the wooden handled ones. They are generally tougher than the ones with plastic handles.
 
If you really want light, take a look at mora's model 333. Fully capable of machete work once you thicken up the edge. I think you can still get a sheath for it from barynoxknife.com.
Another lightweight option is the svord kiwi machete.
 
whats the deal with this badboy? looks weird.
1) But it has a 2.2 mm blade which i love. Not as tiring to use for hours at a time.
2) comes with a leather sheath so I dont need to spend time getting 1 made.

On the downside:
1) The handle doesnt look as stable in the hand as the Condor Speed Machete but thats probably because it has to be able to be held in both directions.
2) It would be nice if it had a 2nd lanyard hole near the top of the handle (the Tops Machete does this and it a nice feature) to make it more stable in the hand.

Has anyone actually used this thing? Im intrigued. Is the handle more comfortable than it looks? this thing looks like it has some nice design features making it an all around tool and I can use my tomahawk for hammering and more heavy duty chopping.

aesthetically the handle can be made black or blaze orange or a nicer looking micarta. Are there different handle options that are nicer to look at?

http://www.baryonyxknife.com/bama.html
 
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TedOfNod said:
Get a Tramontina. Light, fast, and durable.
Click to expand...

This. Trams are insanely good machetes, for a price you don't have to think twice about. :thumbup:

And if it's thick, it's not a machete, despite what some companies trying to cash in on the bushcrafty/survival trend might have you think. ;)

c3y2.jpg
 
TedOfNod said:
Get a Tramontina. Light, fast, and durable.
Click to expand...

I agree with this.
I've been using a Tramontina cane knife (modified with longer handle and filed the hook down to a one sided sharpened triangle shape) for a long time.
 
The Condor Eco Survivor machetes are very comfortable to use, and are quite light and fast. The Condor/Imacasa poly handle these ones use is very ergonomic and pleasant to swing.
 
I got a sharpened Imacasa 12" with a nylon sheath from Benjomin at baryonyx knife for about $17
Excellent

If these are not available get a 14" Tramontina and a sheath from the Imacasa

What could be a better machete than what the locals use...
 
I have a Mora 333 and leather sheath that I got from Baryonx Knife Co. I was looking for a light machete for trail maintenance and it works great.
 
Smithhammer said:
This.

c3y2.jpg
Click to expand...

Agreed! This is the 14" Bolo by Tramontina. I've carried and used mine for years. Recently I've been using my 12" Fiddleback and 12" Ontario Cutlass w/D-guard, but the Tram has been a great tool and will be back in the rotation as soon as I build it another sheath.
 
The TOPS 0.170 Machete is light, fast, and just long enough for trail clearing without getting in the way when strapped to a 'pack. It also comes with the best plastic lined nylon sheath I've ever seen, complete with MOLLE attachments and buckled pouches on the outside. The Micarta handle is very secure, and comfortable for prolonged use.
 
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